H—4s

workers. The Commission appreciates the need for providing some security to waterside workers at all main and secondary ports where the men rely upon the waterfront for a livelihood, and in July, 1945, requested the New Zealand Waterside Workers' Union and the New Zealand Watersider Employers' Association to submit detailed proposals for its consideration. 8. WAITING-ROOM ACCOMMODATION AND FACILITIES Further progress has been made during the year in providing more modern and suitable waiting-room accommodation and facilities throughout New Zealand. The new waiting-room and administrative offices at Westport was opened by Mr. James Roberts on 16th March, 1946. The Greymouth building is nearing completion, and it is expected to be ready for occupation early in October. A small building has been erected on the waterfront at Timaru as a central pay office, and it is a decided improvement in the port facilities. The Auckland Harbour Board is carrying out urgent improvements to accommodation, and the Lyttelton Harbour Board has approved of plans being prepared for erection of modern waiting-room and accommodation facilities at that port. Negotiations are still taking place between the Commission and Bluff Harbour Board regarding the provision of a new waiting-room. Plans and specifications have been prepared for a new building at Nelson, and a start will be made as soon as permit is available and contract let. 9. ANNUAL HOLIDAYS : VE AND VJ DAYS It is pleasing to record that the granting of annual holidays to waterside workers has operated very satisfactorily during the past year. By allowing workers to take holidays in advance it has been possible to spread the leave over the year, and this has been to the benefit of both workers and employers, as the greater number of men are able to get their holidays during the summer months, and delays to shipping are avoided through a limited number of workers being absent at the one time. Concessions have been granted to men absent genuinely sick by treating sick-leave not exceeding 72 days in the year as qualifying period for crediting of annual holidays provided that the worker is absent not less than six working-days and produces a medical certificate. Following pronouncements by the Government regarding the granting of holidays to workers to celebrate victory in Europe and against Japan, agreement was reached for the payment to regular waterside workers of 2 days' pay for VE Day and 1| days' pay for VJ Day, payment being financed from the Annual Holidays Fund. The cost was £13,272 for YE Day and £10,518 for VJ Day. 10. CARGO CONTROL COMMITTEES Published in the Appendix (page 81) is a table summarizing the revenue and expenditure and tonnages handled by the Cargo Control Committees at Ports of Auckland and Wellington. These committees continued to perform a very useful service, but with the cessation of hostilities more wharf-shed space became available, and it was possible to revoke the committee for Wellington on 31st October, 1945. The committee for Lyttelton (including City of Christchurch) was revoked on 15th October, 1945. A large amount of cargo continued to be handled by the Auckland committee, but arrangements were made to expedite release of dock-site store from War Assets Realization Board to the Auckland Harbour Board. At that time the Auckland Harbour Board accepted responsibility for the clearance of wharf sheds, and the Auckland committee and Cargo Control Emergency Regulations were revoked at 31st July, 1946.

7